Connection Structure of a Transfusion Line

ABSTRACT

A connection structure of a transfusion line includes: an injection tube including a bottomed tubular injection part having an opening in the leading end side circumferential wall, and an introduction part communicating with the inside of the injection part; a bottomed outer tube part having a bottom portion linked to the injection tube part and opened to the leading end side for fitting a mating member therein; and a protective shutter externally inserted on the injection part for closing the opening and adapted to move along the axis of the injection part, when it receives a pressing force not lower than a predetermined level toward the base portion side, thereby to open the opening, and to return to the leading end side, when the pressing force is released, thereby to close the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of International(PCT) Application Serial No. PCT/EP2005/010773, filed Oct. 6, 2005,which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-294257,filed Oct. 6, 2004, both of which are herein incorporated by referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection structure of a transfusionline (or other medical liquid flow line).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the transfusion line of a medical tool, there is used the closedsystem which has an infection preventing function and a needle piercingaccident preventing function. For example, the closed system is providedwith a septum or the like on the side of a female connector. FIG. 11 isa longitudinal section showing one example of a medical joint part ofthe prior art, which is composed of a male connector and a femaleconnector. The male connector 30 is provided with a male Luer 31, andthe female connector 40 has a septum 42 arranged in a hollow retainer 41for fitting the male Luer 31 therein. The retainer 41 is provided with abulging portion 53 bulging outward from the outer circumference of theretainer 41 for being fastened by the screw of a fastening tube part 32of the male connector 30. As a result, the male connector 30 and thefemale connector 40 are fixed by causing them to engage with each other.

JP-T-8-500983 (page 2, FIG. 2) shows one example of such a device. Themedical joint portion of the prior art is provided with an opening 33 atthe leading end of the male Luer 31 of the male connector 30. After apriming, however, a liquid leaks from the opening 33, and the liquidleaks in the effluent state to invite an unclean state so that theopening 33 is not sufficiently protected in its vicinity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a connection structure of atransfusion line having a protective shutter for passing a medicalliquid therethrough comprises an injection tube including a bottomedtubular injection part having an opening in the leading end sidecircumferential wall, and an introduction part communicating with theinside of said injection part. A bottomed outer tube part has a bottomportion linked to the injection tube part and is opened to the leadingend side for fitting a mating partner therein. A protective shutterexternally inserted on the injection part closes the opening. Theshutter is adapted to move along the axis of the injection part when itreceives a pressing force not lower than a predetermined level towardthe base portion side to open the opening. The shutter is adapted toreturn to the leading end side when the pressing force is released toclose the opening.

In another aspect, a connector for a medical liquid flow line comprisesan injection tube with a closed leading end and a tube wall with aluminal surface and an abluminal surface. There is at least one throughhole extending through the tube wall near the closed leading end. Ashutter slides on the abluminal surface and occludes the at least onethrough hole when in a closure disposition. The shutter is displaceableby sliding on the abluminal surface to an open disposition when theshutter is subject to a pressing force when the connector is connectedwithin the flow line. The shutter is biased to the closure dispositionso that when the connector is disconnected from the flow line, theshutter reverts to the closure disposition.

In yet another aspect, a connector comprises a male connector. The maleconnector includes an injection tube including a bottomed tubularinjection part having an opening in the leading end side circumferentialwall, and an introduction part communicating with the inside of theinjection part. A bottomed outer tube part has a bottom portion linkedto the injection tube part and opened to the leading end side forfitting a mating partner therein. A protective shutter externallyinserted on the injection part closes the opening. The shutter isadapted to move along the axis of the injection part when it receives apressing force not lower than a predetermined level toward the baseportion side to open the opening. The shutter is adapted to return tothe leading end side when the pressing force is released to close theopening. The connector comprises a female connector including an outertube having a fitted portion to be fitted in the outer tube part. Aseptum is arranged on the inner circumference side of the outer tube andis made of an elastic member having a slit formed for inserting theinjection part. The female connector includes a fixing means for fixingthe septum in the outer tube part and a space adjoining the septum thatis capable of opening the injection part leading end containing the boreportion. An inner tube is formed on the inner circumference side of theouter tube part for communicating from the space to the outside. Aconnection means is connected to a discharge side member, into which theliquid discharged from the inner tube flows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a front elevation of the male connector taken along arrow Aof FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 a is a longitudinal section of a female connector to be fitted onthe male connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 b is a front elevation of the female connector taken along arrowB of FIG. 2 a.

FIG. 3 a is a longitudinal section of the state, in which a protectivecap is fitted on the male connector 1 of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 b is a front elevation of the state, in which the protective capis fitted on the male connector 1, as taken in arrow C of FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the state, in which the maleconnector and the female connector of Embodiment 1 are jointed to eachother.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 2 of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the state, in which the maleconnector and the female connector of Embodiment 2 are jointed to eachother.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 3 of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of the state, in which the opening 5 ofthe male connector of Embodiment 3 is opened.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 4 of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the state, in which the opening 5of the male connector of Embodiment 4 is opened.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section showing one example of a medicalcoupling device of the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 1 of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of afemale connector to be fitted in the male connector. A male connector 1is formed of plastics or the like and attached to a tube or syringe(although not shown), and is constructed in its entirety into a tube, asshown in FIG. 1 b). A female connector 20, as shown in FIG. 2, is formedof plastics or the like and attached to the port of a three-way plug orthe hub of a catheter (although not shown), and is formed in itsentirety into a tube, as shown in FIG. 2 b). Moreover, the maleconnector 1 is fitted in the female connector 20 to construct a medicaljoint part.

As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 1 is provided with an injectiontube 2 for injecting a liquid such as a medical liquid. The injectiontube 2 is constructed to include a cylindrical introduction part 3positioned on the base portion side (or the upstream side) and connectedto the tube for injecting the liquid such as the medical liquid, and aninjection part 4 positioned on the leading end portion side (or thedownstream side) and more diametrically reduced than the introductionpart 3. Moreover, the injection part 4 is composed of a taper injectionportion 4 a positioned on the side of the introduction part 3 and havinga frusto-conical shape gradually diametrically reduced toward theleading end portion side, and a generally bottomed cylindrical leadingend injection portion 4 b positioned on the leading end portion side ofthe taper injection portion 4 a and having its leading end closed with aleading end wall 4 c and its leading end portion side slightly graduallydiametrically reduced. In the leading end side wall of the leading endinjection portion 4 b, there is formed an opening 5 for providingcommunication between the injection tube 2 and the inner and outercircumferences of the injection part 4.

From the vicinity of the leading end portion of the leading endinjection portion 4 b to the leading end portion side of the taperinjection portion 4 a, a protective shutter 6 formed of an elasticmember such as rubber into a tubular shape for protecting the vicinityof the leading end portion of the injection part 4 against invasion ofbacteria or an impurity is externally inserted axially slidably alongthe outer circumference wall of the injection part 4. The opening 5 ofthe injection part 4 is opened/closed as that protective shutter 6slides. This protective shutter 6 is diametrically enlarged on its baseportion side to form a stopper portion 6 a and has its internal diametertapered along the outer wall taper face of the taper injection portion 4a and its leading end portion side formed into a cylindrical portion 6 bto form an abutment face 6 c at its leading end portion and into acylindrical shape along the outer wall face of the leading end injectionportion 4 b.

Moreover, the taper injection portion 4 a enlarges the diameter of theprotective shutter 6 elastically with the taper face diametricallyenlarged on the base portion side, when the protective shutter 6 isretracted toward the base portion to open the opening 5 of the injectionpart 4 by a pressing force at a predetermined level or higher, so that abiasing force in the forward direction, i.e., toward the leading endportion side is applied to the protective shutter 6 by the restoringelasticity of the protective shutter 6 in the diametrically reducingdirection. Here, the predetermined pressing force can be arbitrarily setby considering the frictional force between the protective shutter 6 andthe injection part 4 and the taper angle on the base portion side of theinjection part 4. In case, moreover, the protective shutter 6 isreturned to the leading end portion side by the biasing force in theforward direction, the elastic force of the protective shutter 6 is soadjusted at the fabrication time as to stop at the initial position.

From the vicinity of the base portion to the leading end portion side ofthe taper injection portion 4 a of the injection part 4, on the otherhand, there is formed a bottomed cylindrical outer tube part 7, whichhas a bottom portion 7 a on the base portion side, a circumferentialwall 7 b on the leading end portion side and a space portion 7 c in theinside, and which is opened on the leading end portion side. In theleading end portion side of the circumferential wall 7 b, there isformed a retaining hole 8 for fitting a retained portion 22 therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the female connector 20 is provided with an outertube part 21 having a helical line 21 b in an inner wall 21 a on itsbase portion side (or the downstream side), so that the outer tube part21 is screwed in the port of a three-way plug by that helical line 21 b.Moreover, the outer tube part 21 is provided, on the outer wall of itsleading end portion side (or the upstream side), with the retainedportion 22 to engage with the retaining hole 8 of the male connector 1.The outer tube part 21 is further provided, on the base portion side ofthe inner wall 21 a than the leading end portion side, with an injectiontube 23 having a generally Y-shaped section. A space portion 24 isformed on the leading end portion side of the injection tube 23. In theopening positioned on the leading end of the outer tube part 21, thereis disposed a holding portion 25 having a generally C-shaped section forclosing the opening. The holding portion 25 is retained such that arecess 25 b formed in the side face inner wall engages with a bulgingportion 21 a formed on the leading end portion side outer wall of theouter tube part 21. A circular bore portion 26 is formed in the vicinityof the center of the holding portion 25, and a septum 27 made of anelastic member is filled from the circular bore portion 26 to thevicinity of the central portion of the space portion 24 and is retainedby holding an annular ridge 25 a of the holding portion 25 in engagementwith an annular groove portion 27 b of the septum 27. Here, the septum27 is provided with a slit 27 a for fitting the injection part 4 of themale connector 1.

When the male connector 1 is fitted in the female connector 20, theleading end injection portion 4 b of the injection part 4 of the maleconnector 1 is inserted in a sealed state into the septum 27 of thefemale connector 20. At this time, the abutment face 6 c positioned atthe leading end portion of the protective shutter 6 comes into abutmentagainst the surface of the septum 27, and the protective shutter 6retracts to the base portion side so that the opening 5 can be opened toinject the liquid from the side of the male connector 1 to the side ofthe female connector 20.

The actions of Embodiment 1 thus constructed are described. First ofall, a protective cap 28 is fitted before use on the male connector T1as shown in FIG. 3. The protective cap 28 is provided with a cylindricalenclosure portion 28 a for covering the injection part 4 of the maleconnector 1, and a cylindrical outer tube enclosure portion 28 b forenclosing the leading end portion side of the outer tube part 7 of themale connector 1. The enclosure portion 28 a is provided, at the endportion of the opposite injection part side, with a filter 29 forpassing air therethrough only from the inside to the outside but not theliquid. The male connector 1 is so fitted in the protective cap 28 thata retained portion 28 c formed in the inner circumference of the outertube enclosure portion 28 b of the protective cap 28 is made, like thecase of the female connector 20, to engage with the retaining hole 8 ofthe male connector 1. In this state, the introduction part 3 and theinjection part 4 of the male connector 1 and the inner circumference ofthe protective cap enclosure portion 28 a are filled with the medicalliquid. Thus, merely by removing the protective cap 28, the opening 5 ofthe injection part 4 is closed with the protective shutter 6 so that thepriming can be completed.

After this priming operation, the leading end portion of the injectionpart 4 of the male connector 1 is inserted from the slit 27 a of theseptum 27 of the female connector 20, as located on the three-way plugside, and the male connector 1 is turned. Then, the retained portion 22of the female connector 20 is retained in and linked to the retaininghole 8 of the male connector 1, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the portionof the opening 5 of the leading end injection portion 4 b of the maleconnector 1 is introduced into the space portion 24 of the femaleconnector 20. At this time, the protective shutter 6 of the maleconnector 1 is pressed to the base portion side of the injection part 4by the surface of the septum 27 of the female connector 20 and isretracted toward the base portion side along the axial direction of theinjection part 4 so that the opening 5 of the protective shutter 6 isopened. The protective shutter 6 further retracts and stops when itsstopper portion 6 a abuts against the bottom portion 7 a of the outertube part 7.

Thus, the protective shutter 6 of the male connector 1 is compressed bythe septum 27 of the female connector 20 so that the opening 5 of themale connector 1 is opened not in the atmosphere but only in the spaceportion 24. Moreover, the injection part 4 of the male connector 1 isinserted into the inside of the female connector 20 so that the opening5 of the injection part 4 is positioned in the space portion 24. As aresult, the male connector 1 and the female connector 20 can communicatewith each other through the opening 5 of the injection part 4 thereby topass the liquid. In case the male connector 1 is disconnected when it isto be connected to the female connector 20, the protective shutter 6 isreturned to the leading end portion side by its elastic force when themale connector 1 is disconnected, so that the opening 5 of the maleconnector 1 is closed to block the passage of the liquid.

At the time of the communication between the male connector 1 and thefemale connector 20, the protective shutter 6 has been retracted anddiametrically enlarged to the diametrically larger side of the taperinjection portion 4 a. As a result, the protective shutter 6 establishesan elasticity to return to the diametrically smaller side thereby toestablish a force to move to the diametrically smaller side of the taperinjection portion 4 a, i.e., a biasing force toward the leading endportion side. When the injection part 4 of the male connector 1 isextracted from the septum 27 of the female connector 20, the protectiveshutter 6 is slid to the diametrically smaller side along the taper faceof the taper injection portion 4 a by the restoring force to thediametrically reduced side, so that the opening 5 of the leading endinjection portion 4 b is occluded by the protective shutter 6.

According to Embodiment 1, the biasing force to the leading end portionside can be applied to the protective shutter 6 by forming the taperinjection portion 4 a in the male connector 1 and by externallyinserting the protective shutter of the elastic member on the taperinjection portion 4 a. Thus, the opening 5 of the male connector 1 isnormally closed by the protective shutter 6 and is opened, only whenneeded, by applying the force to the base portion side. As a result, theleakage of the liquid at the releasing time of the connector or at thepriming time can be suppressed to suppress its diffusion, which wouldotherwise cause the infection.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 2 of the invention. In Embodiment 2, the cylindrical portion6 b of the protective shutter 6 is made of a deformable elastic member.The remaining construction is substantially similar to that of the caseexemplified in Embodiment 1, and its description is omitted.

The actions of Embodiment 2 thus constructed are described. When themale connector 1 shown in FIG. 5 is inserted into the female connector20, the protective shutter 6 is pressed by the surface of the septum 27to slide along the axial direction of the injection part 4 to the baseportion side, as shown in FIG. 6, so that its stopper portion βa comesinto abutment against the bottom portion 7 a of the outer tube part 7.When the protective shutter 6 is pressed further by the surface of theseptum 26, it is deformed into a corrugated shape.

At this time, the protective shutter 6 is diametrically-enlarged by thetaper injection portion 4 a and is compressed into the corrugated shape.As a result, the restoring elasticity in the diametrically reducingdirection occurs in the protective shutter 6 thereby to establish theforce to move to the diametrically smaller side of the taper injectionportion 4 a, i.e., the biasing force to the leading end portion side.When the male connector 1 is then extracted from the female connector20, the protective shutter 6 is slid by the restoring force to thediametrically smaller side, i.e., to the leading end portion side alongthe taper face of the taper injection portion 4 a, so that the opening 5of the injection part 4 is clogged by the protective shutter 6 therebyto restore the state, as shown in FIG. 5. The remaining actions andadvantages are substantially similar to those of the case exemplified inEmbodiment 1, and their description is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 3 of the invention. In Embodiment 3, the protective shutter6, as exemplified in Embodiment 1, is provided with an air-bleedingfilter. In order to protect the vicinity of the opening 5, theprotective shutter 6 formed of an elastic member such as rubber into atubular shape is so externally fitted on the leading end injectionportion 4 b as to slide in the axial direction along the outercircumference wall of the injection part 4. As the protective shutter 6slides, the opening 5 of the injection part 4 is freely opened/closed,as shown in FIG. 8. This protective shutter 6 is provided, in thevicinity of its leading end portion and at the portion corresponding tothe opening 5, with a filter for covering the opening 5 widely to bleedthe air. This filter 9 is made of a member for passing the airtherethrough but not a liquid such as the medical liquid. The remainingactions and advantages are substantially similar to those of the caseexemplified in Embodiment 1, and their description is omitted.

In addition to the advantages of Embodiment 1, according to Embodiment3, the protective shutter 6 is provided at its portion with theair-bleeding filter 9. After the priming, therefore, even when theopening 5 is closed by the protective shutter 6, the residual air can befurther discharged while preventing the leakage of the medical liquidfrom the opening 5. The protective shutter 6, as exemplified inEmbodiment 2 with a construction similar to that of this embodiment, mayalso be provided with the air-bleeding filter. This filter has actionssubstantially similar to those of this embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of a male connector according toEmbodiment 4 of the invention. In Embodiment 4, the protective shutter 6is provided on its base portion side with an elastic member such as acoil spring and at its portion with the filter 9 for bleeding the air.As shown in FIG. 9, the injection tube 2 of the male connector 1 isconstructed to include the cylindrical introduction part 3 positioned onthe base portion side and connected to the tube, and the bottomedtubular injection part 4 positioned on the leading end portion side anddiametrically reduced more than the introduction part 3. In the sidewall on the leading end portion side of the injection part 4, theopening 5 is formed to provide the communication between the injectiontube 2 and the outside.

In order to protect the vicinity of the leading end portion of theinjection part 4, the protective shutter 6 formed of an elastic membersuch as rubber into a tubular shape is externally fitted slidably in theaxial direction along the outer circumference wall of the injection part4 so that the opening 5 of the injection part 4 is freely opened/closedas the protective shutter 6 slides. This protective shutter 6 isdiametrically enlarged on its base portion side to form the stopperportion 6 a and is provided with the cylindrical portion 6 b on theleading end portion side and the abutment face 6 c at its leading endportion. On the outer circumference of the injection part 4 positionedon the base portion side of the protective shutter 6, a coil spring 10is arranged to have its one end retained on the stopper portion 6 a ofthe protective shutter 6 and its other end retained on the bottomportion 7 a of the outer tube part 7. Here, the elastic force of thecoil spring 10 is so adjusted that the protective shutter 6 may stop atthe initial position in case it is returned from the position shown inFIG. 10 to the position on the leading end portion side, as shown inFIG. 9, by the biasing force in the forward direction.

The protective shutter 6 is provided, in the vicinity of its leading endportion and at the portion corresponding to the opening 5, with thefilter 9 for covering the opening 5 widely to bleed the air. This filter9 is made of a member for passing the air but not the liquid such as themedical liquid therethrough. The remaining construction and actions aresubstantially-similar to those of Embodiment 1, and their description isomitted. According to Embodiment 4, in addition to the effects ofEmbodiment 1, the coil spring 10 is mounted on the base portion side ofthe protective shutter 6 so that the reliable biasing force to theleading end portion side can be obtained. At the same time, theair-bleeding filter 9 is mounted in the portion of the protectiveshutter 6 so that the residual air can be further removed whilepreventing the leakage of the medical liquid from the opening 5 evenwhen the opening 5 is closed by the protective shutter 6 after thepriming.

The shapes of the connectors exemplified in the foregoing individualembodiments can also be so applied to a syringe that the shape of theleading end portion of the syringe may be shaped into the injection partof the male connector. Moreover, the shape of the Luer tip or thecatheter tip may also be applied to the shape of the injection part.

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a connectionstructure of a transfusion line, which can be attached to and detachedfrom the transfusion line without any leakage from the opening when theconnected state is released, and a connector having the connectionstructure.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, there is provideda connection structure of a transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, which comprises: an injection tube including abottomed tubular injection part having an opening in the leading endside circumferential wall, and an introduction part communicating withthe inside of the injection part; a bottomed outer tube part having abottom portion linked to the injection tube part and opened to theleading end side for fitting a mating partner therein; and a protectiveshutter externally inserted on the injection part for closing theopening and adapted to move along the axis of the injection part, whenit receives a pressing force not lower than a predetermined level towardthe base portion side, thereby to open the opening, and to return to theleading end side, when the pressing force is released, thereby to closethe opening. Here, the connection structure for the transfusion line maybe exemplified by the connection structure having the connectorconstructed to include the male connector and the female connector, aswill be described hereinafter. In this case, the aforementioned matingpartner is the female connector. Moreover, the aforementioned pressingforce not lower than a predetermined level implies a pressing force at alevel capable of opening the opening when the> protective shutter ispressed to the injection part base portion side.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, in theconnection structure of the transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, the injection part is provided on its base portionside with a taper portion diametrically reduced in the direction to theleading end portion so that the protective shutter is diametricallyenlarged along the taper portion, when it slides to the taper portionside, to establish a biasing force toward the leading end portion side.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, in theconnection structure of the transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, the injection part is provided on its base portionside with a taper portion diametrically reduced in the direction to theleading end portion so that the protective shutter is diametricallyenlarged along the taper portion and compressed to the base portion sidein the axial direction, when it slides to the taper portion side, toestablish a biasing force toward the leading end portion side.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, in theconnection structure of the transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, the injection part is provided with a springportion for biasing the protective shutter to the leading end portionside, so that it is biased to the leading end portion side by the springportion when the protective shutter slides to the spring portion side.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, in theconnection structure of the transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, the protective shutter is provided with anair-bleeding filter in front of the opening.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, in theconnection structure of the transfusion line for passing a medicalliquid therethrough, the mating partner is a protective cap including:an enclosure portion enclosing communicating from the leading end to thetrailing end for enveloping the injection part, and provided on itstrailing end side with a filter capable of discharging air toward theoutside and preventing the outflow of the liquid; a bottom face portionextending in the outward direction from the enclosure portion; and aconnecting portion formed for enveloping the outer periphery of theouter tube part from the bottom face portion and connected to the outertube part.

According to at least one embodiment of the invention, moreover, thereis provided a connector comprising: a male connector including theconnection structure of the transfusion line; and a female connectorincluding: an outer tube having a fitted portion to be fitted in theouter tube part; a septum arranged on the inner circumference side ofthe outer tube and having a slit formed for inserting the injectionpart; fixing means for fixing the septum in the outer tube part; a spaceadjoining the septum and capable of opening the injection part leadingend containing the bore portion; an inner tube formed on the innercircumference side of the outer tube part for communicating from thespace to the outside; and connection means connected to a discharge sidemember, into which the liquid discharged from the inner tube flows .

In the connection structure of the transfusion line and the connectorhaving the connection structure, according to at least one embodiment ofthe invention, the injection part side wall is provided with theopening, in which the protective shutter having a biasing force isdisposed on the leading end portion side. The opening is closed, whenthe connector is not connected, and opened, at a priming time and at theconnected time, so that the liquid leakage can be substantiallyeliminated when the mating member is removed.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the illustratedembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products,and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

1. A connection structure of a transfusion line having a protectiveshutter for passing a medical liquid therethrough, comprising: aninjection tube including a bottomed tubular injection part having anopening in the leading end side circumferential wall, and anintroduction part communicating with the inside of said injection part;a bottomed outer tube part having a bottom portion linked to saidinjection tube part and opened to the leading end side for fitting amating partner therein; and a protective shutter externally inserted onsaid injection part for closing said opening and adapted to move alongthe axis of said injection part, when it receives a pressing force notlower than a predetermined level toward the base portion side, therebyto open said opening, and to return to said leading end side, when saidpressing force is released, thereby to close said opening.
 2. Aconnection structure of a transfusion line having a protective shutter,as claimed in claim 1, wherein said injection part is provided on itsbase portion side with a taper portion diametrically reduced in thedirection to the leading end portion so that said protective shutter isdiametrically enlarged along said taper portion, when it slides to thetaper portion side, to establish a biasing force toward the leading endportion side.
 3. A connection structure of a transfusion line having aprotective shutter, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said injection partis compressed to the base portion side in the axial direction, when itslides to the taper portion side, to establish the biasing force towardthe leading end portion side.
 4. A connection structure of a transfusionline having a protective shutter, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidinjection part is provided with a spring portion for biasing saidprotective shutter to the leading end portion side so that it is biasedto the leading end portion side by said spring portion when saidprotective shutter slides to the spring portion side.
 5. A connectionstructure of a transfusion line having a protective shutter, as claimedin claim 1, wherein said protective shutter is provided with anair-bleeding filter in front of the opening.
 6. A connection structureof a transfusion line having a protective shutter, as claimed in claim1, wherein said mating member is a protective cap that has an enclosureportion enclosing communicating from the leading end to the trailing endfor enveloping said injection part, and which is provided on itstrailing end side with a filter capable of discharging air toward theoutside and preventing the outflow of the liquid; a bottom face portionextending in the outward direction from said enclosure portion; and aconnecting portion formed for enveloping the outer periphery of saidouter tube part from said bottom face portion and connected to saidouter tube part.
 7. A connector for a medical liquid flow line, theconnector comprising: i) an injection tube with a closed leading end anda tube wall with a luminal surface and an abluminal surface, there beingat least one through hole extending through the tube wall near theclosed leading end; and ii) a shutter that slides on the abluminalsurface and occludes the at least one through hole when in a closuredisposition, the shutter being displaceable by sliding on the abluminalsurface to an open disposition when the shutter is subject to a pressingforce when the connector is connected within the flow line, the shutterbeing biased to the closure disposition so that, when the connector isdisconnected from the flow line, the shutter reverts to the closuredisposition.
 8. A connector comprising: a male connector including: aninjection tube including a bottomed tubular injection part having anopening in the leading end side circumferential wall, and anintroduction part communicating with the inside of said injection part;a bottomed outer tube part having a bottom portion linked to saidinjection tube part and opened to the leading end side for fitting amating partner therein; and a protective shutter externally inserted onsaid injection part for closing said opening, the shutter being adaptedto move along the axis of said injection part when it receives apressing force not lower than a predetermined level toward the baseportion side to open said opening, and being adapted to return to saidleading end side when said pressing force is released to close saidopening; and a female connector including: an outer tube having a fittedportion to be fitted in said outer tube part; a septum arranged on theinner circumference side of said outer tube and made of an elasticmember having a slit formed for inserting said injection part; fixingmeans for fixing said septum in said outer tube part; a space adjoiningsaid septum and capable of opening said injection part leading endcontaining said bore portion; an inner tube formed on the innercircumference side of said outer tube part for communicating from saidspace to the outside; and connection means connected to a discharge sidemember, into which the liquid discharged from said inner tube flows.